Should He Stay or Should He Go

[BMac]

Crap. I reeeeeally hope not.

Also, I was about to say "go to Penn State, it's a scholarship school with money that you can turn into a big-time program."

Then I went to find out who their coach was.

Awesome.

"George Gwozdecky replaces Guy Gadowsky; Penn State Players Participate in Press Conference at Pegula Ice Arena"

[Trotsky]

Put me down for he should stay, FWIW.  

[Trotsky]

Colgate would be a decent fit for Gwozdecky, if Don Vaughan is getting tired.  But consider this: Vaughan, who has been around seemingly forever, is younger than Gwozdecky.

This is not a guy to build a new program; it's a guy who might be able to take a program one last step, before retiring after a few years.

[marty]

Colgate would be a decent fit for Gwozdecky, if Don Vaughan is getting tired.  But consider this: Vaughan, who has been around seemingly forever, is younger than Gwozdecky.

This is not a guy to build a new program; it's a guy who might be able to take a program one last step, before retiring after a few years.

This post is a couple days late . Today's the third.

[Trotsky]

Colgate would be a decent fit for Gwozdecky, if Don Vaughan is getting tired.  But consider this: Vaughan, who has been around seemingly forever, is younger than Gwozdecky.

This is not a guy to build a new program; it's a guy who might be able to take a program one last step, before retiring after a few years.

This post is a couple days late . Today's the third.

?

(Oh, you probably mean the contradiction between the two paragraphs.    Well, yeah, they were two distinct thoughts that probably didn't belong in the same post.)

[RatushnyFan]

Willing to try that's easy. He's unemployed and he's said he wants to continue to coach. Two who's the best player Schafer has produced? Murray? Easiy take Matt Carle over that.

Best college player during his tenure, probably, unless you want to pick Lenny.  But I think that Greening and Moulson will go down as better pros.

[Trotsky]

Murray's teammates seem to love him and think he makes a great contribution.  I think oddly enough we may underestimate his impact in the pros, like many underestimated Manderville, because from a star in college he went to a role player in the NHL.  But I think his tenure speaks volumes -- most pro careers only last a couple years.

[adamw]

I'm gonna give my usual short answer to this question, when it comes up each year ... and sorry if this offends anyone, but I really don't think it deserves anything more than this ...

--> If you think Mike Schafer should be fired, you are a complete idiot

I am pleased to see that the best, most eloquent, replies on this thread come from the people I personally know - They have a lot more patience than I have for this line of thinking.

Since it directly applies, here is the commentary I just wrote on the Gwozdecky firing:
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2013/04/03_rocky_mountain_low.php

Otherwise, the tangents in which this thread went on, are interesting. As an Islanders fans, I must stick up for the notion that you don't have to attend every game, watch every game, and/or have season tickets to be considered a "true fan." I hate that kind of thinking. I care about the Islanders deeply, all the time. But whether it's the Islanders or any of the other crappy teams that I love -- if they are miserable, I can't justify paying all that money to attend games, or invest time that I could be spending with my kids or significant other doing any number of other things. In fact, particularly in pro sports, I think it sends a very bad message to ownership when people continue to show up to games win or lose. See: Chicago Cubs. There is no incentive for those teams to improve.

The Islanders have been miserable for 20 years. I defend the fact that their attendance is lousy. The forthcoming jokes from Josh notwithstanding, there are a lot of Islanders fans. When they've had even a little success over the last 20 years, the building was packed and loud. They are out there. And I don't blame them one bit for being fed up with how that franchise has been for 20 years. A complete joke in many ways - hopefully soon to be on the rebound.

That said - there are, obviously, also people who are band-wagoners and only care when a team wins. I loathe them. That's a different story - but the only way to distinguish between the two is to talk to them, not necessarily by whether they attend a game or not.

[marty]

Colgate would be a decent fit for Gwozdecky, if Don Vaughan is getting tired.  But consider this: Vaughan, who has been around seemingly forever, is younger than Gwozdecky.

This is not a guy to build a new program; it's a guy who might be able to take a program one last step, before retiring after a few years.

This post is a couple days late . Today's the third.

?

(Oh, you probably mean the contradiction between the two paragraphs.    Well, yeah, they were two distinct thoughts that probably didn't belong in the same post.)

I meant it would have been more appropriate on April 1. I don't see Gwozdecky in Hamilton, NY.

[Trotsky]

Colgate would be a decent fit for Gwozdecky, if Don Vaughan is getting tired.  But consider this: Vaughan, who has been around seemingly forever, is younger than Gwozdecky.

This is not a guy to build a new program; it's a guy who might be able to take a program one last step, before retiring after a few years.

This post is a couple days late . Today's the third.

?

(Oh, you probably mean the contradiction between the two paragraphs.    Well, yeah, they were two distinct thoughts that probably didn't belong in the same post.)

I meant it would have been more appropriate on April 1. I don't see Gwozdecky in Hamilton, NY.

Would you care to elaborate?

[KeithK]

Since it directly applies, here is the commentary I just wrote on the Gwozdecky firing:
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2013/04/03_rocky_mountain_low.php

My favorite bit from your piece: "But the cutthroat, winning-is-the-only thing mentality has infiltrated college hockey as it has other big-time college sports." The older I get the more I understand that winning is fun but it's the journey that makes sports fun.

[Ben]

Since it directly applies, here is the commentary I just wrote on the Gwozdecky firing:
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2013/04/03_rocky_mountain_low.php

My favorite bit from your piece: "But the cutthroat, winning-is-the-only thing mentality has infiltrated college hockey as it has other big-time college sports." The older I get the more I understand that winning is fun but it's the journey that makes sports fun.

Are we paying coaches for journeys? If so, Schafer had better be leading Senior Week rafting trips.

[marty]

Colgate would be a decent fit for Gwozdecky, if Don Vaughan is getting tired.  But consider this: Vaughan, who has been around seemingly forever, is younger than Gwozdecky.

This is not a guy to build a new program; it's a guy who might be able to take a program one last step, before retiring after a few years.

This post is a couple days late . Today's the third.

?

(Oh, you probably mean the contradiction between the two paragraphs.    Well, yeah, they were two distinct thoughts that probably didn't belong in the same post.)

I meant it would have been more appropriate on April 1. I don't see Gwozdecky in Hamilton, NY.

Would you care to elaborate?

Sorry, just a bad joke I guess on my part, but it would seem like an April fools joke to see him in Starr.

[Josh '99]

The Islanders have been miserable for 20 years. I defend the fact that their attendance is lousy. The forthcoming jokes from Josh notwithstanding, there are a lot of Islanders fans.

... said 1985.

(OK, it's not great, but it's tough when you're put on the spot like that!)

[Trotsky]

The Islanders have been miserable for 20 years. I defend the fact that their attendance is lousy. The forthcoming jokes from Josh notwithstanding, there are a lot of Islanders fans.

... said 1985.

(OK, it's not great, but it's tough when you're put on the spot like that!)

I expected at least one Mausoleum reference.  Traid!  :-(